Maximator

MAXIMATOR

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MAXIMATOR

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PROFILE

Germany’s Maximator GmbH is a technology leader in the field of high pressure and testing technology, hydraulics and pneumatics. With more than 40 years of experience, Maximator’s components and systems offer innovative solutions in a wide range of sectors and applications.

Recent innovations in gas solutions and hydrogen applications have enabled the company to remain at the cutting-edge of technological breakthroughs. Profile by Andy Probert.

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nnovation at Maximator GmbH has always been at the very forefront of business development in high pressure technology, and to a wider extent, within industry. That spirit of discovery and curiosity in various applications has been honed since businessmen messieurs Schmidt and Kranz created Nordhäuser Maschinenfabrik in 1885.

The Glinz family bought the company in 1928, and have, for the best part of the last century, retained control of the SchmidtKranz Group, which included the launch of Maximator Hochdrucktechnik (highpressure systems) in the 1960s.

Established provider Since 2002, Maximator has operated as an independent company while still part of the Schmidt Kranz Group, which now includes Perforator Bohrtechnik, GHH Fahrzeuge (vehicles), Hazemag & EPR Bergbau und Bohrtechnik (mining and drilling equipment) and Fest Automatisierungstechnik (automation engineering).

The spirit of the Schmidt-Kranz Group and the Glinz family continues to permeate through Maximator whose business has grown due to its commitment to high quality products, engineering excellence and the ability to offer technical solutions for many industries.

Maximator is a leader in the field of high-pressure and pressure testing technology, hydraulics and pneumatics. The company develops, designs and produces everything from components to complex systems and even entire infrastructures.

As well as high pressure liquid pumps, gas boosters, valves, hydraulic units and gas booster stations, the company’s range of services encompass autofrettage systems, impulse test stands, systems for gas and water injection, and hydrogen compressor systems.

“For more than 40 years, our goal has been to increase the benefits for our customers in the best manner through our experience and expertise, and highly reliable quality applications for industries, such as oil and gas, and maritime,” commented Matthias Blome, Maximator’s Head of Sales and Marketing.

“When it comes to pioneering technology, Maximator uses innovative developments that support our customers in their fields with effective, environmentally-friendly solutions.”

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MAXIMATOR

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PROFILE

Today, the business employs 380 people at its Nordhausen facility. A dedicated Service and Development Centre allows Maximator to offer customer-orientated services such as pressure, burst pressure and impulse testing, auto-frettage of components, and inspections on CNG and hydrogen tanks.

With sales offices across Germany and partner companies in 20 countries, including a dedicated office in the UAE to service clients in the Middle East, North Africa and CIS countries, the affiliated companies employ about 330 staff worldwide, helping to guarantee a global service at a local level in product performance and service provision.

“It has been our focus for the last two decades to build up a global presence and to be closer to our clients,” added Marketing Manager Christopher Schätz. “You can’t be a world leader without retaining that close contact with suppliers, partners and clients.”

Maximator also maintains 45 people in the service sector on a domestic and international scale to offer full support to their clients.

Maximator Germany posted €67 million in turnover in 2021, enjoying 7% year-on-year growth in sales, but with 40% growth in orders. The Maximator Abu Dhabi office, averaged around €3 million in annual turnover.

Sabharish Nandakumar, Maximator’s Abu Dhabi General Manager, said the ability to deliver a localised service was a win-win situation for all. The office, opened by Maximator in 2008, offers various customised high pressure solutions

to clients designed and packaged from Abu Dhabi.

“With local stock of various high pressure components and solutions, Maximator Abu Dhabi can quickly scale up to industry demands and also offers a local repair facility for Maximator equipment. Maximator Abu Dhabi also customises high pressure testing equipment for various applications locally in UAE itself by getting the parts from our headquarters and other sub vendors.”

While Abu Dhabi’s main focus supports the likes of Saudi Aramco, UAE’s ADNOC and PDO in Oman, the Middle East remains a very strong market for Maximator. From Abu Dhabi, the company distributes customised equipment throughout the region.

Maximator Abu Dhabi has achieved ADNOC’s In-Country Value (ICV) Certification which plays a major role in getting the projects from various subcontracting companies in UAE, Mr Sabharish added.

New business advances

driven booster. These are now being presented to the market.”

The company has also created Maximator Gas Solutions GmbH, an affiliated company strong in electrical compressor systems for such things as breathing gas compression.

These systems include the filtration systems and storage cylinder bundles.

“They are qualified according to different standards for breathing gas storage systems for onshore and offshore use on oil and gas platforms,” Mr Blome confirmed.

In January 2022, Maximator Hydrogen GmbH was created as a spin-off business

Matthias Blome - Sales Director

Mr Blome said Maximator was continuing to expand its portfolio of products for the oil and gas fields, such as full flow double block and bleed valves (DBBVs) and the addition of NACE-compliant products for sour-gas service.

“We are also developing electro-hydraulic driven booster units, for example for API 6 PSL testing with gas for O&G equipment like well-head valves,” he added. “These boosters are bigger in capacity and that means less pressurisation time compared to an airSabharish Nandakumar General Manager - Abu Dhabi Operations

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Maximator

with a strong focus on hydrogen refuelling stations for various kinds of vehicles.

A ground-breaking ceremony took place on three hectares in Nordhausen before the end of 2020 initially for two production halls – Germany’s largest production facility dedicated to serial production of Maximator’s hydrogen filling stations. Construction concluded at the end of 2021 and production is set to begin.

“Over the past years, multiple refuelling has been engineered and built with an outstanding performance regarding efficiency and availability,” Mr Blome detailed. “We have designed and built special components, such as valves to tubing for these hydrogen refilling stations, but we are now scaling up to build these stations ourselves.”

Maximator has also established a collaboration with TestNet in Germany to offer a testing chamber for Type 4 accumulator for accumulating the gas in transportation.

Flexible to changing trends Maximator’s plans for the next two years will be to invest in infrastructure, such as workshop space, machining capacity and supporting processes, as well as new product development for the oil and gas industry, machinery construction and hydrogen applications As much as Maximator is renowned for its responsiveness, service, quality, cus-

tomised solutions, experience, and flexible and fast deliveries, it is still grappling with challenges focused on material supply chain issues, hiring qualified people and growing the infrastructure.

To ensure professional, long-term initial and advanced training for staff, Maximator has an academy with trained, TÜV-certified coaches. Behind all this is a certified quality management system in accordance with ISO 9001.

Mr Blome acknowledged that while the high pressure industry was changing, with oil and gas field development decreasing, and new fields of application being more gas related, Maximator remained steadfast in building long-term relations with suppliers and clients based on its commitment, reliability, loyalty and support.

High pressure applications are moving towards hydrogen (qualification and EOL testing of equipment like storage cylinders and accessories, hydrogen refuelling stations), plus food preservation and hot isostatic presses (powder metal and 3D printed items), and Maximator is intent on maximising its leverage.

According to Mr Blome, the company had not lost sight of the need to continue to build out its sustainability activities which encompass reducing its carbon footprint, maintaining energy audits, executing energy flow analysis, and consid-

ering future investments to further reduce energy consumption.

Concluding, Marketing Manager Christopher Schätz commented: “Maximator not only serves a huge range of applications, one of our main advantages is that we are testing using our own equipment directly for turnkey solutions.

“We know more than anybody else about our product and how we can improve it. This constellation of activity ensures there is no other high-pressure company on the market today that can match Maximator in terms of high-pressure technology. Customers trust in our experience and what we do for them.”n

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